Cementing, washing, and acidizing retainer for perforated well casings



April 9, 1940. R. c. BAKER El AL 2,196,653

CEMENTING, WASHING, AND ACIDIZING RETAINER FOR PERFORATED WELL CASINGS Filed May 5, 1939 V2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F1511. .F'jfil 1 6 1cm a.

ATTORNEY April 1940- R. c. BAKER ET AL 2,196,653

CEM'ENTING, WASHING, AND ACIDIZING RETAINER FOR PERFORATED WELL CASINGS I Filed May 5, 1959' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V a 32 36 2 Q j 33 37 L 33 IA'I'ENTOR. REUBEN C. BAKER CgLRE-c5E.Bu2T

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ATTORNEY (Fin-.7

4 Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CEMENTING, WASHING, AND ACIDIZIN G BE- TAINEB FOB PERFORATED WELL CAS- INGS California Application May 5, 1939, Serial No. 271,939

11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to packers for oil wells, and specifically t the type of packers known as retainers for cementing, washing, acidizing and analogous operations in a well bore.

It is the principal object of our present invention to provide an improved packer capable of use in blanking oil a desired length of perforated casing and then capable of use in cementing, washing or acidizing operations, and which may be entirely removed from the'hole after it has performed its function. v

In practicing our invention, we provide an elongated packer body which may be made up in a sectional form so that it may blank off any desired length of perforated casing into which it is lowered. This packer body is capable of expansion by fluid pressure into tight contact with the casing to blank the same OE and to set slips for gripping the casing and anchoring the packer in place. After this operation, the packer may be used as a cement retainer for the purpose of cementing, washing, acidizing or analogous uses. Thereafter, through the medium of a simple operation, the packer may be contracted and the slips released and the entire packer removed from the hole at the end of the running in string of tubing.

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar to Figs. 1 and 2 with.

the exception that the parts of the packer are shown in the condition they assume when the de- 40 vice has been set in a well casing for operation.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the entire apparatus embodying the invention, showing the packer in elevation and showing the circulating joint in central vertical section.

. Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, we have there illustrated a packer or retainer capable of use in perforated or screen pipe for the purpose of cementing outside of the screen pipe and thereby blanking it ofi, or wash,-

ing the outside of screen or perforated casing, or

placing acid into the formation outside of' the screen or perforated casing. We desire to point out here that this packer or retainer can be made 55 inany desired length so as to simultaneously blank oil. any desired length of screen or perforated pipe.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1, of course, showing the upper half of the device and Fig. 2 B the lower half, it will be seen that the device comprises an elongated center tube ill of comparatively small diameter; that is, of a diameter which would coincide somewhat with the diameter of the running in tubing employed to run in the 10 packer into the hole. On the upper end of this center tube I0 is fixed an upper head 22 which in turn is connected with a circulating joint I I connected with the running in string of tubing l2. The circulating joint II is an article which is 15 well known in the industry and which isin eflect a telescoping type of valve.

The circulating joint ll consists mainly of a cylinder i4 connected at its upper end to the 'lower'end of the running in string I 2 and tele- 20 scoping over a hollow mandrel 15 which is connected by means of a left-hand thread |5a to the head 22 and connected thereby to the center tube I0 of the packer. The lower end of the cylinder I4 is splined as at i6 to the mandrel I5, 95 there being suflicient play between the splines and the splineways to form fluid passages for the purpose that will be described. The end of the mandrel 15, which projects into the cylinder i3, is slightly enlarged as illustrated to constitute a valve to cooperate with a. valve seat i! arranged interiorly of the cylinder i4 adjacent its bottom.

It will be seen that when the telescopic joint is extended as illustrated in Fig. 5, that the valve seats on the seat ll so that fluid may circulate only from the running in string downwardly through the mandrel l5 into the center tube iii. However, when the joint is telescoped, fluid from the running in string l2 may by-pass the valve and discharge between the lower end of the cylin-' 40 der l4 and the mandrel l5 at the exterior of the latter. Therefore, by maintaining a tension on the running in string of tubing l2, the telescopic joint or valve II- is closed so that fluid pressure may be built up in the center tube Ill, but when to the running in string is lowered with respect to the mandrel I5 and the center tube [0, the telescopic joint or valve H is opened so that fluid may be by-passed.

At its lower end the center tube I0 is rigidly connected to a back-pressure valve head I 8 having a valve port l9 controlled by a buoyant type of back-pressure ball valve 20. a The back-pressure valve head I8 is hollow and is provided at its lower end with a restricted orifice 21; that is u restricted with respect to the diameter of the center tube l0 so that a fluid pressure may be built up in the center tube ID as will be described. The

back-pressure valve 20, of course, prevents the upflow of fluid into the center tube III for obvious reasons.

At the upper end of the center tube I8 is fixed the upper head 22 upon. which is mounted a bleeder valve actuating collar 23 which may reciprocate to a limited degree on the head 22 against the action of springs 24 and 24a. Formed vertically through the head 22 are bleeder passageways or ports 25 controlled by bleeder valves 26 normally spring held in closed or shut condition by valve springs 28a. However, by depressing the bleeder valve actuating collar 23 with respect to the head 22, the bleeder valves 26 may be opened to render the bleeder ports or passageways eifective and allow the by-pass of fluid upwardly through the head 22, as may be clearly seen from Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

Fixed to the upper head 22 is a tubular packer body 21 which may be made up in units as will be desc ibed. The lower end of this tubular packer body 21 is fixed to a slip-actuating head 28 slidably or telescopically mounted on the lower end of the center tube l0, as illustrated in Figs; 2 and 3. The tubular packer body 21 may be of a single length of rubber; or similar material, 'ormay be made in sections or units of a length say not exceeding thirty feet, and con- .nected by an internal collar in the manner indicated at 28 in Figs. 1 and 3.

Likewise, the center tube l8 may be made in sections so that the length of the entire packer may be as desired so as to blankbif any length of perforated or screen casing-as may be necessary. The function of the device, however, remains the same regardless of whether or not the packerbody 21 is in a single length or made up of several lengths into one unit.

It will be noticed that the packer body 21 is of an internal diameter somewhat greater than the center tube l8 so as to form a pressure chamber 21a between the center tube [8 and the tubular packer body 21. It will also be noticed that the bleeder passageways 25 which extend vertically through the upper head 22 communicate with the pressure chamber at their, lower ends and with the well bore at the upper end of the head. v

Formed in the center tube In short of the upper head 22 are pressure ports 38, which are controlled by a valve 3| of the resilient sleevetype mounted in the pressure chamber and secured to the center tube ID in a position with its free end portion overlying the ports 38. When the pressure within the center tube in is greater than within the pressure chamber 21a, the fluid will pass through these ports 30 by opening the However, when the pressure is greater in the pressure chamber than in the tube H), the resilient sleeve valve 3| will maintain the ports 38 closed and thereby maintain the pressure in the pressure chamber.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, it will be noticed that the slip actuating head 28 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers 32 which project radially outward from the body of the head 28. Carried by the fingers 32 is a set of segmental slips 33, each slip having an upwardly extending shank 34 extending between fingers 32. Above the fingers 32,.each shank 34 is formed with a T-head 35 to bear on the upper surfaces of adjacent fingers 32 so that upward movement of the fingers 32 will be accompanied by upward movement of the slips 33. The segmental slips forming the set of slips are embraced by a contractual means in the form of'a circular coil spring 33 nesting in circumferential grooves formed in the outer surfaces of the slips 33, as most clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. The spring normally urges the set of slips 33 into retracted and However, it will be noticed that the slips are free to move radially outward if sufllcintexpanding force is exerted thereon due to the fact that the shanks 34 may move radially outward ineffective condition.

with respect to the fingers 32. The internal faces of the slips 33 are formed with conically curved faces 31, complemental with a cone face 38 formed on the valve head l8.

It is, therefore, seen that if the slips are moved downwardly relative to the valve head l8, the co-acting conical faces 31 and 38 will cause the slips to be moved radially outward or expanded into gripping engagement with a surrounding casing. It is likewise obvious that when the slips are in expanded or gripping position, should they be moved upwardly with respect to the valve head 18, the spring 36 will withdraw the slips from gripping position as their conical faces ride upwardly on the cone face 38.

It will be noticed that the slip actuating head 28 is provided with an external annular shoulder 39 overlying the T-heads 35 of the slips to force them downwardly with respect to the valve head 18 for the purpose of tightly setting them into gripping relationship with a surrounding casing. We also desire to point out, and we refer particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, that the center tube ID has a surrounding annular shoulder 48 at a point just above its lower end, and between which shoulder and an internal annular shoulder 4| secured to the slip actuating head 28 is in-,

terposed a comparatively strong coil spring 42. The internal annular shoulder 4| on the slip actuating head 28 is actually the lower edge of an internal collar 43 secured to the slip actuating head 28, which collar is bored to telescopically or slidably receive the center tube l0, suitable packing means 44 being provided to prevent the bypass of fluid between the center tube l8 and the internal collar 43.

We desire to point out that when the apparatus is assembled, the spacing of the circulating joint ll above the bleeder valve actuating collar 23 is such that when the-circulating joint is telescoped, the lower end of the cylinder I4 thereof may engage the bleeder valve actuating collar 23 and depresses the same relative to the upper head 22 sufliciently to open the bleeder valves 26 and bleed the pressure chamber which is, as previously described, disposed between the tubular packing body 21 and the center tube 10.

In operation of the device, it is assembled as shown in the drawings with the parts in the condition illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, and it is lowered into the well bore on the lower end of the running in string l2. When it reaches the predetermined position in the casing, the circulation pumps are started, causing the circulation fluid to be pumped downwardly under pressure into the center tube [8. Due to the restricted orifice 2| at the lower end of the valve head I 8, which communicates with the center tube l0, pressure will be built up in the center tube It! and fluid will by-pass through the'pressure ports 38 by expanding the sleeve valve 3| and build up a fluid pressure in the pressure chamber between the tubular packer body 21 and the center tube Hi. This will cause the packer body 21 to expand into tight contact with the casing.

- As the pressure continues to build up in the pressure chamber 21a, the tubular rubber packer body 21, being restricted from further expansion by engagement with the'casing, elongates,,moving the slip actuating head 28 downwardly against the action of the spring 42. This downward movement continues until the external annular shoulder 39 on the head 28 engages the T-heads 35 of the slips 33, moving the latter downwardly with respect to the cone face 38 on the valve head l8, thus causing the slips to move radially outward into casing engaging position.

While the circulating pumps are maintained in .operation, the running in string is then raised until the indicator shows a weight of three or four oints, which indicates thatthe tool is set and a pack-oil? has been accomplished and the tool is now ready for operation. It is desired to a in'pressure in the center tube IE will not effect reduction of pressure in the pressure chamber.

Cementing, washing or acidizing operations may then be carried on by puniping-the cement slurry, or the washing fluid, or the acid, downwardly through the running in string, unseating the back-pressure valve 20 and discharging through the restricted orifice 2!. It is seen that if a cementing operation is carried on, that the cement will discharge through the perforations in the casing below the packer and will travel upwardly around the casing in the space between it and the well bore, blanking the same ofl'. Similarly, washing fluid will travel and wash the exterior of the screen casing.

After the operation has been completed and it is desired to retrieve or remove the packer from the casing. the weight is taken of! of the running in string l2 and the same permitted to slightly lower so as to telescope the circulating joint il,

relieving the pressure in the center tube HI, and when the lower end of the cylinder ll of the circulating joint H engages and bears on the bleeder valve actuating collar 23, the latter will move downwardly relative to the upper head 22 and open the bleeder valves 26, by depressing the stems thereof, relieving the pressure in the pressure chamber by permitting the fluid therein to by-pass upwardly through the upper head 22 and into the space above the packer through the bleeder passageways 25.

When the pressure in the pressure chamber is relieved, the-rubber packer body 21 will contract, which will result'in the shortening of the same and permit the spring 42 to move the slip actuating head 28 upwardly relative to the backpressure valve head 18. This upward movement of the slip actuating head 28 will cause the fingers 32 to engage the T-heads 35 of the slips 33 and move the slips upwardly with respect to the cone face 38, and as they move upwardly, the spring 36 will contract the set of slips by withdrawing them radially inward as fast as permitted by the taper of the complemental cone surfaces 31 and 38. The running in string may then be pulled from-the hole and as it is removed, it will withdraw the packer in its entirety from the bore.

In the event, however, that something should happen so that the packer cannot be loosened or freed from the casing, the entire running in string may be turned to the right, which will disconnect the mandrel l from the upperhead 22. As previously described, the mandrel is connected to the head 22' by means of the lefthanded thread 15a.

From the foregoing it is obvious that we have provided a very efiicient and very practical apparatus which may be run. into a well bore for the purpose of packing of! any desired length of screen or perforated casing, and'thereafter to permit a fluid to be pumped downwardly into the casing below the packed of! area,. as described. As pointed out hereinbefore, after the device has performed its function, it may be quickly and easily removed from the well bore in its entirety.

- While we have shown the preferred form of our invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 1 I a Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular member having an open upper end, a closure member for the lower end of i said tubular member, said closure member having a restricted discharge orifice therein, a tubular expansible packer body surrounding the tubular member and fixed thereto at one end and slidably mounted thereon at its opposite end in fluid-tight relationship therewith, said tubular member having ports formed therein intermediate the ends of said packer body whereby fluid pressure built up in the tubular member will be tionship to prevent the bypass of fluid between the tubular member and the packer body, and valve controlled ports in the tubular member to enable fluid pressure built up in the tubular member to be exerted between the tubular member and the packer body to expand the latter.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a sectional tubular member having an open upper end, a closure for the lower end of said tubular member having a restricted discharge orifice formed therein, a sectional tubular expansible packer body'surrounding the tubular member and fixed thereto at one end and slid ably mounted thereon at its opposite endin fluidtight relationship therewith, said tubular member having ports formed therein at a point between the ends of the packer body to enable fluid pressure built up in the tubular member to be exerted between the tubular member and the packer body to expand the same."

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a sectional tubular member having an open upper end, a closure for the lower end of said tubular member-having a restricted discharge orifice formed therein, a sectional tubular expansible packer body surrounding the tubular member and connected therewith at opposite ends, said connections being fluid-tight, said tubular member having ports formed therein at a point between the ends of the packer body to enable fluid pressure built up in the tubular member to be exerted between the tubular member and the packer body to expand the same, and check valve means controlling said ports to prevent reduction of pressure between the tubular member and the packer body through said ports.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a sectional tubular member having an open upper end adapted to be connected with a string of running in tubing, a closure for the lower end of said tubular member having a re-,

stricted discharge orifice, a b: cit-pressure valve means interposed between said orifice and the lower end of said tubular member to control the up-fiow of fluid from said orifice into said tubular member, a sectional tubular expansible packer body surrounding the tubular member and con-' nected at its opposite ends to said tubular member, said connections being fluid-tight, said tubular member having valve controlled ports formed therein at a point between the ends of the packer body to enable fluid pressure built up in the tubular member to be exerted between the same and the packer body to expand the latter, said valve controlled ports preventing the relief of pressure from between said tubular member and said-packer body when the pressure in the tubular member is less than the pressure between the tubular member and the packer body.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular member having an open upper end adapted to be connected to a string of running in tubi g, a closure member for the lower end of sai stricted orifice, a tubular expansible packer body surrounding the tubular member and fixed there to at one end, a telescopic connection between the other end of the packer body and said tubular-member to enable elongation and retraction of the packer body under pressure conditions,

means for exerting fluid pressure against said,

packer body through the tubular member to expand and elongate the same, a set of slips operatively connected to the telescopic connection between the tubular member and the packer body to be operated by the elongation and contraction thereof, and cooperating cone faces on said tubular member and on said slips whereby elongation of the packer body will move said slips radially outwardly and contraction of said packer body will withdraw said slips radially in-' wardly.

7. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular member having an open upper end adapted to be connected to a string of running in tubing a closure member for the lower end of said tubular member having a restricted orifice, a tubular expansible packer body surrounding the tubular member and fixed thereto at one end, a telescopic connection between the other end of the packer body and said tubular member to enable elongation and retraction of the packer body under pressure conditions, means for exerting fluid pressure against said packer body through the tubular member to expand and elongate the same, a set of slips operativeiyconnected to the telescopic connection betubular member having a re- 7 tween the tubular member and the packer body to be operated by the elongation and contraction thereof, cooperating cone faces on said tubular member and on said slips whereby elongation of the packer body will move said slips radially outwardly and contraction of said packer body will withdraw said slips radially inwardly, and spring means constantly tending to withdraw said slips radially inward to an ineffective position.

8. An apparatus 'of the character described comprising a tubular member having an open upper end, an upper head member connected with said tubular member, a slip operating member reciprocably mounted on the tubular member adjacent the opposite end thereof and in fluid-tight relationship thereto, a tubular packer body connected at its upper end to said upper head member and at its lower end to said slip operating member, slips carried by the slip operating member, cooperating cone faces on the tubular member and on said slips whereby movement of said slip operating member in one direction will move said slips radially outward and movement in the opposite direction will move said slips radially inward, said packer body being capable of elongation under fluid pressure and contraction when said pressure is relieved whereby to reciprocate said slip operating member, a cosure for the lower end of said tubular-member, said closure having a restricted orifice toenable pressure to be built up in said tubular member, said tubular member having valve controlled ports formed therein between the ends of said packer. body to enable fluid pressure built up in the tubular member to be exerted against said packer body to expand and elongate the same, and independently operable means for relieving thefluid pressure exerted to expand and elongate said packer body.

9. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular member having an open upper end, a tubular expansible packer body, an upper head member connected to said tubular member and to the upper end of said packer.

body, a means connecting the lower end of said packerbody to said tubular member, a closure for the lower end of said tubular member having a restricted orifice, valve controlled ports formed in the tubular member intermediate the ends of the packer body to enable fluid pressure built up in the tubular member to be exerted between the packer body and the tubular member, said upper head member having relief ports formed therethrough, relief valve means controlling said ports, and a reciprocable relief valve operating member carried by said upper head member and capable upon depression to open said relief valve means.

Y 10.'An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular member having an open upper end, an upper head member secured on the upper end of said tubular member, a tubular packer body surrounding the tubular member and secured to the upper head member at its upper end, a slip operating member reciprocably mounted on the tubular member and connected with the lower end of the packer body, a set of slips associated with the slip operating member, cooperating cone faceson the tubular member and on the 'slips whereby longitudinal movement of the slips in one direction will move the same radially outward and longitudinal movement in herently resilient so that it will contract when said pressure is relieved, the said elongation and contraction of the packer body causing actuation of the slips, a closure for the lower end of 5 the tubular member having a restricted discharge 1o pressure built up in the tubular member to be exerted against the packer body to expand and elongate the same, said upper head member having relief passageways formed therethrough, relief valves' controlling said passageways, a de- 15 pressible member carried by the upper head member for engaging and opening said relief valves.

11. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tubular member having an open upper end, an upper head member connected with said tubular member, a tubular packer body surrounding the tubular member and connected at. its upper end to the upper head member, means for creating fluid pressure between the tubular member and the packer body to expand the latter, said upper head member having relief ports formed therethrough to relieve the pressure between the tubular member and the packer body, relief valves controlling said ports, a depressible member carried by the upper head 10 member and capable upon depression to open said relief valves, a mandrel detachably connected to said upper head member, a telescoping joint connecting said mandrel to a string of running in tubing and positioned so that when it is telescoped a part thereof engages said depressible memberto open said relief valves.

REUBEN C. BAKER.

CLARENCE E. BURT. 

